GEORGE TOWN, April 29 — More than 500 football fans were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet football star Mesut Ozil during a “Meet and Greet With Fan Club” session at the University of Science Malaysia (USM) Sports and Recreation Centre here today.

The arrival of the former Arsenal and Real Madrid player was met with a lively reception and cheers from fans who waited patiently despite the hot weather just to catch a glimpse of their idol up close.

The programme, which lasted nearly half an hour, began with a casual session hosted by renowned sports commentator Zainal Abidin Rawop, touching on various aspects including Ozil’s career journey, his experience in Malaysia, and his future plans.

Sharing his experience in the country, Ozil said he has thoroughly enjoyed his visit to Malaysia, particularly in Penang, which is famous for its food diversity.

“I like the food here. I really enjoy food with sauces and spicy flavours. In Penang, there are many dishes with rich spices and spicy. I definitely want to try more. I really enjoy spicy food,” he said.

Reflecting on his career journey, Ozil, who is known as an “assist” specialist, said his main goal on the field was always to help his teammates achieve success.

 

 

 

 

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He also shared his intention to open a football academy in Istanbul, Turkiye, to assist in the development of young talent in his home country.

“InsyaAllah, I will open an academy in Istanbul, Turkiye. My goal right now is to help young people. I don’t want to be on the professional side anymore because you travel a lot,” he noted.

During the session, 50 lucky fans were given the chance to participate in a special autograph session with Ozil.

The Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, his deputy, Adam Adli Abdul Halim, and USM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed were also in attendance.

Following the “Meet and Greet,” the former German professional footballer of Turkish descent headed to a football clinic participated in by primary school students from around Penang.

Ozil has been in Malaysia since last Sunday to attend several programmes in the capital and Penang in conjunction with the Second Meeting of the Malaysia-Turkiye Joint Committee on Higher Education.

Tomorrow, he is scheduled to attend a Football Clinic with Mesut Ozil in Perak. — Bernama 

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Former Arsenal and Real Madrid star Mesut Ozil has encouraged Malaysia to strengthen investment in youth academies and grassroots development to elevate its football standards.

Ozil, also a German international from 2009 to 2018, said building a strong football ecosystem begins with nurturing young talents through proper education and structured support across all levels of the game.

"What’s important in football is making good investments in academies and young people, and supporting amateur and professional clubs,” he said at the Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) here today.

He also stressed that a long-term commitment to youth development could see more Malaysian players making their mark internationally.

"I think if this is done as a country, then many Malaysian football players will be seen on the world stage,” the German-born Ozil, son of Turkish immigrants, added.

On handling pressure at the highest level, Ozil cited self-belief and trust in teammates as the key, particularly in high-stakes matches.

"On the field, I never felt pressure. I always believed in myself and my teammates. Even when we lost big games, we never gave up and always tried to improve,” he said, adding that 

He also stressed that true leadership is reflected in how individuals respond to setbacks.

"If everything is going well, it is easy. But when something goes wrong, you have to learn from your mistakes and come back stronger,” he added.

The summit, which drew more than 500 participants, was also attended by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and the president of the Council of Higher Education Türkiye, Professor Dr Erol Özvar.

It also featured a special session with prominent figures, such as Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah and Polity Executive Chair Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The strategic initiative was a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Sycamore Foundation.

-- BERNAMA

TAGS: Mesut Ozil, German, Malaysia-Turkiye Leadership Summit 2026, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, investment